How to teach neighborhood cat that my garden is not its personal litter box?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cayenne powder

Has this actually worked for you? How much do you use per square foot and how long does it last?

It has kept 20 years of our cats out of the house plants and patio containers. It doesn’t take much because after they lick their paws, they dislike it.

[Anonymous]

You could plant lavender in your garden. Cats hate that. I would keep a garden hose with a strong spray nozzle ready all the time. Spray the shi7 our of the cat at close range. He’ll learn. Outdoor cats are a nuisance. Their owners are even worse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Either the vinegar or the ammonia. Squirt the cat, and it will slowly learn.

You can also buy something like this: https://www.acehardware.com/departments/lawn-and-garden/insect-and-animal-control/animal-repellents/7692353?x429=true&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI7-fB-7__6AIVForICh0FDQnDEAQYBCABEgJq-_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

We use it for deer, but would probably work with cats too.
There are also Orbit sprinklers.

You would squirt a cat with ammonia? I would have you arrested. You are gross. Worse than a cat.

I would be tempted to fill a supersoaker with vinegar water. Wild birds have enough trouble.

Vinegar is not ammonia. Plain water will deter a cat. Don't you know that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cayenne powder

Has this actually worked for you? How much do you use per square foot and how long does it last?

It has kept 20 years of our cats out of the house plants and patio containers. It doesn’t take much because after they lick their paws, they dislike it.

This seems like a good thing to try but I wonder if this cat, who seems particularly clueless, will be able to make the association between our garden and the icky taste on its paws when it grooms itself later on. I think spraying it with water would be a more immediate negative association. (I wouldn't spray it with something harmful. Even though I hate that the owners let their cat out to pee, poo, and kill birds in our backyard, it's not the cat's fault and I don't want to hurt it.) Since I can't sit outside all day and wait for the cat to come visit I think the motion activated sprinkler might be just what we need. I will order one and report back. Thanks everyone!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cayenne powder

Has this actually worked for you? How much do you use per square foot and how long does it last?

It has kept 20 years of our cats out of the house plants and patio containers. It doesn’t take much because after they lick their paws, they dislike it.

This seems like a good thing to try but I wonder if this cat, who seems particularly clueless, will be able to make the association between our garden and the icky taste on its paws when it grooms itself later on. I think spraying it with water would be a more immediate negative association. (I wouldn't spray it with something harmful. Even though I hate that the owners let their cat out to pee, poo, and kill birds in our backyard, it's not the cat's fault and I don't want to hurt it.) Since I can't sit outside all day and wait for the cat to come visit I think the motion activated sprinkler might be just what we need. I will order one and report back. Thanks everyone!

(Also, the lavender, geraniums and other stinky plants are another good idea, but alas, this garden is in the deep shade so no chance of growing those.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cayenne powder

Has this actually worked for you? How much do you use per square foot and how long does it last?

It has kept 20 years of our cats out of the house plants and patio containers. It doesn’t take much because after they lick their paws, they dislike it.

This seems like a good thing to try but I wonder if this cat, who seems particularly clueless, will be able to make the association between our garden and the icky taste on its paws when it grooms itself later on. I think spraying it with water would be a more immediate negative association. (I wouldn't spray it with something harmful. Even though I hate that the owners let their cat out to pee, poo, and kill birds in our backyard, it's not the cat's fault and I don't want to hurt it.) Since I can't sit outside all day and wait for the cat to come visit I think the motion activated sprinkler might be just what we need. I will order one and report back. Thanks everyone!

Good choice OP!

Be sure to move it around a little bit. Sometimes cats get good at figuring out a path that doesn’t trigger the sprinkler and you’ll have the same problem. Just repositioning the sprinkler a few feet away in the garden bed is enough. It’s all about the element of surprise!

[Anonymous]

Do you know who the cat belongs to?

[Anonymous]

I'd fill a water gun with paint and have some fun with it. Otherwise very strong vinegar or something very, very smelly.

To the PP saying that the cat wouldn't like plain water, I wouldn't really care about what the cat likes or doesn't. I'm trying to teach the owner a lesson. If the cat comes inside with wet paint every day (water based paint the first day, permanent after that) then they have some personal incentive to fix the problem. Selfish people don't care about others, you need to give them a personal incentive to do the right thing.

[Anonymous]

Another option is to load up a water gun with food coloring. You can spray the cat when you see it in your yard. The water is what will discourage the cat but the food coloring will alert his owner that he’s a nuisance. It’s completely safe.

[Anonymous]

You people don’t seem to understand: the garden IS the cat’s “personal litter box.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd fill a water gun with paint and have some fun with it. Otherwise very strong vinegar or something very, very smelly.

To the PP saying that the cat wouldn't like plain water, I wouldn't really care about what the cat likes or doesn't. I'm trying to teach the owner a lesson. If the cat comes inside with wet paint every day (water based paint the first day, permanent after that) then they have some personal incentive to fix the problem. Selfish people don't care about others, you need to give them a personal incentive to do the right thing.

This is a very good idea. After using the watered down ammonia the cat stayed in their house and stopped using our vegetable garden as their personal potty. Cat crap should not be on food.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You people don’t seem to understand: the garden IS the cat’s “personal litter box.”

It seems that YOU are the one who doesn't seem to understand: MY garden is NOT someone's cat's "personal litter box".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cayenne powder

Has this actually worked for you? How much do you use per square foot and how long does it last?

It has kept 20 years of our cats out of the house plants and patio containers. It doesn’t take much because after they lick their paws, they dislike it.

+1 I buy restaurant size 5 lb bag and put it all around our sidewalk and garden. Works very well. Neighborhood dogs don’t like our yard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You people don’t seem to understand: the garden IS the cat’s “personal litter box.”

They love a fresh coating of mulch and will run right out and use it with satisfaction.

[Anonymous]

Here's another idea. The cat needs a litter box. If you just try to take it away with nothing to replace it, he's not going to give up easily.

What if you get the cat a litter box and put it by your garden? You'd have to get his scent on it. it's not like you'd have to clean it often.